The Act of Hares is a short story written for Seanan McGuire's Patreon supporters. It is the fifth story in the Tybalt Shorts and pairs closely with The Voice of Lions.
| “ | They that have the voice of lions and the act of hares, are they not monsters? | ” |
Author's Summary[]
Return to Londinium, and the Court of Fogbound Cats, in the time when Tybalt was first a King, and everything was changing.[1]
Tybalt begins to remember what it is to rule.[1]
Plot []
At Colleen's insistence, Tybalt begins holding audiences every fortnight even though he rules a kingdom of three. Bartram brings his family and requests to join the Fogbound Cats. His grandson Bram is a changeling, and they are fleeing a Queen of Cats who would have Bram killed. Colleen recognizes the girl Chalcedony as a Princess of Cats and wishes to groom her as an heir. Tybalt accepts them into the Court after some debate.
While the newcomers settle in, Tybalt goes hunting for their dinner. He is interrupted by emissaries from the Divided Courts, who bring him to Heydon and Lettice. The Londinium monarchs scorn his newest members of court, particularly Bram. Tybalt defends his new subjects and reminds them that he is their equal as a King of Cats.
Tybalt steals dinner from a rich mortal, staging it to look like a robbery rather than the mortal's servants doing the thieving. After delivering the food, he delivers a message to London's mortal cats that his Court is now accepting new subjects. They will spread the word.
Characters []
- Tybalt
- Colleen, Tybalt's sister
- Cailin, Tybalt's niece
- Bartram
- Agnet
- Chalcedony
- Bram
- Heydon and Lettice: Daoine Sidhe monarchs of Londinium
Mentioned only []
- Cyne: Princess of Londinium, Santon's sister
- Santon (deceased): Cailin's Daoine Sidhe father, former Crown Prince of Londinium
Places[]
- London and Londinium
- Isle of Dogs
- Shadow Roads
- Court of Fogbound Cats
Mentioned only[]
Quotes[]
- "Among the Cait Sidhe, when we do not know a thing, we ask. Questions can be clumsy, yet they rarely give offense when asked honestly, and we find it better to betray a moment’s clumsiness than to foster such confusion. Misunderstandings are a plague. They spread whether we will it or no.” -Tybalt
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ Patreon
| Tybalt Shorts |
|---|
| A King Without a Court |
| Remembering to Rule |
| Caring for Cailin |
| September |
| Hero's Quest |
| Court of Silver |